Interview with Loome

Nov 23, 2022

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

My dad was/is an incredible guitar player and human, he’s my superhero so I really had no choice but to pick up a guitar. From there my obsession with music just spiraled out of control until I now can’t think of anything else I’d rather do with my life. But if music didn’t exist then I think I would have become some kind of carpenter, I’ve always loved working with my hands. I’d do both but power tools and guitar playing don’t really mix well.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

To be honest, I’m completely obsessed, so if I’m not making music I’m just socializing with friends, working or watching sci-fi. Whether you realised it or not, sci-fi makes it into pretty much every Loome song I write and is just where my imagination lives.

How long have you been making music?

I recently figured out that I wrote my first song almost 18 years ago. It was about girls before I even liked girls because I just thought that was what songs were meant to be about.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

I have lived in a few locations but feel most at home in Suffolk. It has a sense of calm and allows me to be an introvert without feeling bad about it. The majority of my lyrics are an internal monologue, writing lyrics helps me to process and identify what my feelings are about pretty much everything.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Our virtual show for Moment House was a truly special experience for me, to be able to connect with my fans across the globe over 3 different time zones. It was also the first time I got to play my songs with my band since before COVID. I’ll be uploading snippets of that show to my Youtube, it is too good to sit on my hard-drive and now be enjoyed.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Shows at the Hunter Club, Bury and The Star Inn, Surrey have a particular sense of nostalgia for me. I grew up watching bands play there so it’s really fun to be on that stage. As for shows I’d love to play, UK music festivals hold my heart first and foremost but anywhere where people want to hear LOOME, I’ll be there.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Reading Festival 2009 would be up there for me. That year Arctic Monkeys had just released ‘Humbug’ and Kings of Leon had just released ‘Only By The Night’. Also it was my first festival, what a baptism of fire!

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?

Have fun, you’ll always look back on those times in that-mates-parents-basement and happy-cry. Also, consciously seek out like-minded people and make that your bubble. My friendship circle is everything to me and I’m lucky to have friends like Talking To Strangers collaborator, Oktae in my life.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Stop taking advice from people you don’t aspire to be. Be kind. Be humble. Think bigger, then think even bigger again. You are your only limitation.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

A LOOME deep cut called ‘200 Years Early’: it’s about a kid who grew up wishing sci-fi were true and that it was the year 2220… and that they had invented zero-gravity shoes. FYI - the kid is me.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Worst Nightmare has been the most requested but I can only assume it’ll be superseded by Psycho.

What is the creative process for Loome, and what inspires you to write your music?

Acoustic guitar x vocals every time (usually wearing some kind of blanket). Then I’ll put those chords into Logic and play around until I find something that serves the song. What inspires me currently is emotional turbulence, it never fails to come out as lyrics. Also, the other biggest inspiration is having no time to sit and write songs. A fun fact, I wrote almost the entire EP (except Talking To Strangers) in one week as series of voice notes. I then spent the next couple months putting them together in Logic.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Through expressing my own experiences I hope to empower those going through the same things with one clear message, ‘Everything is going to be ok’. We’re all humans, we’re all mostly the same and nothing is ever as catastrophic as it feels.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

My new EP marks a new phase in my life and artistry, so you can expect some pretty big moves from LOOME…shows, merch, songs. Overall, just more LOOME.